Immunoadsorption therapy (therasorb) in patients with severe lupus erythematosus

Therapeutic removal of immune complexes and antibodies by plasmapheresis has been used in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since 1974. Modern methods of selective adsorption of immunoglobulins from the patient plasma (immunoadsorption, IAS) have been developed; they deserve to be investigated as a tool in the management of difficult cases of SLE. We report our experience in an uncontrolled series of five consecutive SLE patients, in whom cytotoxic immunosuppression was contraindicated or not sufficient to control the disease. Ig-Therasorb columns containing polyclonal sheep antihuman immunoglobulin antibodies were used for IAS for periods of 4 to 54 weeks. In order to prevent rebound autoantibody production, low doses of normal human immunoglobulin were substituted. Improvement in clinical and laboratory signs of disease activity was observed in all patients. In two patients the effect of cyclophosphamide therapy for lupus pneumonitis and lupus-associated thrombopenic purpura was consolidated. In three patients suffering from pancytopenia or lupus vasculitis, the use of cytotoxic substances could be avoided for more than a year. IAS seems to be a safe replacement of conventional plasmapheresis in difficult cases of severe lupus complications. Although controlled studies are lacking, this method may occupy a few important niches as an adjunct in managing immune complex mediated diseases.